Supporting means for flexible pipe mechanism



April 22, 1930. L 1,755,254

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE PIPE MECHANISM 7 Filed Sept. 26. 1927 WH i f4 5 29 5 7 1 A Z0 ,3

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T 19 7 I fanfar- "gfierf6b1d MAVW lic pipe sections swiveled together in such a manner that a. universal bodily movement of the coupler 6, through which connection is made with an adjacent car, is permitted in practically any direction so as to allow for the relative movements of the two cars without breaking or unduly straining the conduit structure. This flexible conduit structure C may take a. variety of forms, the one here shown being merely an example, but in any case the upper section thereof will be suspended from the Valve B, or from the end of train pipe A, usually by a threaded connection, such as indicated at 5 in Fig. 2. a

It will be apparent that the members B and C will be of considerable weight, and

that the threaded connections between the train pipe and valve, and between the valve and flexible conduit will be under considerable stress. These threaded connections (particularly the one between the car train pipe A and the endtrain pipe valve B) remain inservice for great lengths oftime and are apt to rust and become weakened so that in time the weight of the suspended parts, together with the sudden stresses caused'by the jerking of the cars may be sufficient to break these connections and permit-the sus-,

pended parts B or C tddrop. This will not 1" only render the heating system inoperative,

but the broken parts may be lost, and these parts are apt to fall into and derange switch mechanism, or 'otherwisecause a wreck or other property damage. The improvements hereinafter described are designed to reinforce and strengthen these threaded connections, and to temporarily suspend the parts in case breakage of the threaded connections should occur.

The inter-engaging end portions of the valve B and'conduit structure C are usually provided with outstanding collars or flanges having a regular polygonal periphery for engagement by'wren'ches when the parts are being screwed together, these flanges being indicated at 7 and 8, respectively. A pair of similar clamping collars 9 (one of .WlllCll 1s indicated inperspective' in Fig. 3, and one of which is indicated in applied position'in Fig. 2), are adapted tobe fitted about the inter-engaging end portions of the members B and C, these clamping members 9 having inwardly extending semi-annular flanges 10 and 11 adapted to engage behind the collars ,7 and 8. Each of the members 9'is provided with a pair ofoutstanding ears '12 which are adapted to be clamped to the correspondingears on the-other member 9 by means of bolts or other suitable fastening members 13. It will be apparent that the collar formed bythe two clamping members 9 serves to assist in supporting the weight of the flexible conduit structure C, resists bending strains,

and will serve to'support the structure in case the threaded connection 5should become broken. As best shown in F ig; 4, the lateral extension 1 of the valve B, into'which the end 2 of pipe A is threaded, as shown at 3, is formed with an extension, as indicated at let-{which terminates in a collar 15 closely'e'ngaging about the pipe A at a location somewhat remote from the threaded connection 3. The

1 portion 14 of this extension maybe in the to temporarily support the valve B, and the conduit structure G carried'thereby. v

The preferred formshown in Figs. 5 and 6 is adapted for those installations wherein provision is made for the lateral movement of thetrain pipe A and the members supported therefrom,-:in company with the coupler head or draw-bar by means of which the cars are connected. In some systems, the end portions of the pipe connections on the cars in company with the coupler-head'in order are'so mounted that they will movelaterally to avoid damage caused by the engagement of these parts. Such a construction is disclosed in-the' patent to Davidson 985,149 granted Feb." 28, 1911. Figs. 5 and 6, 16 is a hanger or sillextending transversely beneath the end portion of the car, and 17 is a support or carriageslidable along this sill transversely of the car. The end portionjof train pipe A is supported 'in a block or cradle 18 on carriage 1'Z, and

the laterally projecting" portion 1- of valve body Bis also supported on the carriage 17, for example by having a portion of the flange 19 rest directly upon the carriage; The pipe A isheld in-place by, means of a clamp 20 Referring now to g securedto the cradle'18 and engaging lover the upper 'portion'ofthe' pipe. ;According tothe present improvement, an extension 21 is provided on the clamp member 20, this member 21 extending over the flanged collar 7 19 on the valve'housing andhaving a'down- '7 wardly projecting portion '22, preferably provided. with extended fingers 23 adapted to clamp aboutthe portionl of the valve. v A" sufficient clearance is provided beneath the extension 21, as indicated at 24 and25, to :1

permit the necessary movement of flange 19 longitudinally of pipe A, as the pipe ex pands or contracts. The clamp 21 serves to transfer a considerable portion of thesupp'orting stress of membersgB and C directly to the support or carriage 17instead of ham ing all of this stress thrownupon the threaded end of pipe A. Furthermore, in-case the c apparatus C i B, as shownin Figsl and c r I In some installations, the end valve B is threaded connections should break, the clamp 21 will serve to hold the valve B inengagement with carriage li and prevent th'eloss of the suspended members.

It will be understood that the clamping de vice shown in Figs. 2 and 3.for' supporting the that it is used with thefirst-described auxiliary support for valve not located directly at the end of train pipe I q A, and the flexible structure C is supported from the downward end portion ofpipe A. The clamps 9 could be applied to sucha con-Y struction, the proportions of the parts being modified as might be found necessary; The extension 14, as shown in Figs. 1

the housing of valve 13, but maybe rigidly I claim p 1. A supporting mechanism for a car from thev'alve B would be used I in connection with the disclosure ofFigs. 5' and 6, in the same manner pipe and the end train pipe valve connected therewith comprising a hanger on the car and a support slidable along the hanger, a

cradle carried by the support on whichthe there being an outand 4:, need not be formed as an integral portion ofsecured to the lateral extension 1 of the valve v 7' housing in any suitable manner.

extend over the valve and engage train'pipe and the end train pipe valve connectedtherewith comprising a support cartherewith comprising 'a hanger on the car and e a support slidable along the hanger, the pipe ried by the car, a cradle carried by the support on which the pipe is adapted to rest,

there being an outwardly extending flange on the pipe-engaging end of the valve; said flange being adapted to rest on the support I adjacent the cradle, and a clamping member secured to the cradle and having a portion adapted to engage over the pipe and a connected portion "adapted to extend over the valve and provided with a downwardly projecting arcuate flange adapted to: engage down behind the flange on the valve." c

2. A supporting mechanism fora car train and the end trainpipe' valve'connected and adjacent end of the "valve being adapted to rest on the support, and aclampingmember secured to the supportand having a portion adapted to engage over the pipe and a connected portion adapted to engage over the valve to relieve the strain on the inter-engaged portions of the pipe and valve.

3. A supporting mechanism for acar train pipe and the end train pipe valve connected therewith comprising a hanger on the car and a support slidable along the hanger, the pipe and adjacent end of the valve being adapted to rest on the support, and a clamping member secured to the support andhaving a pore tion adapted to engage over the fpipe and a connected portion adapted to extend over the a valve and provided with a downwardly projecting, arcuate flange adapted to extend' clown behindfan outwardly-projecting flange on the valve. 5 f 7 4. A supporting mechanism for a car train 

